Scientists sniff out rare 'dung' plant

Traditional owners from Central Australia have led scientists to the discovery of a rare plant species which has not been recorded as growing in an arid climate.

Alice Springs Desert Park curator of botany Scott Pullybank says the rare plant species Typhonium, also known as Sandover, was found near Utopia.

The lily species generates heat up to 12 degrees above the environment around it and sends off an unpleasant smell which attracts dung beetles.

"The flower is quite spectacular and it's got some fascinating biology surrounding that flower because it's pollinated by dung beetles of all things," Mr Pullybank said.

"I guess if you want to attract a dung beetle, the best thing you can do is smell like dung."

Mr Pullybank says the species is usually found in tropical areas of the Top End.

"It's like an arum lily, those white lilies that were very popular in the past at weddings," he said.

"So it's got a flame like structure, like a big petal and out of the middle of that comes this sort of erect structure, like a finger or something like that, that comes out the middle and it emits this amazing stench."

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